Train-line coupling.



W. L. BLISS.

TRAIN LINE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28, 1904.

910,040, Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

WITNESSES. lNl/E/VTUR ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

WILLIAM L. BLISS, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

' mam-mm: comma.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909. 1

Application filed November 2a, .1904. Serial No. 234,663.

5 of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Train-Line Couplings, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in couplings for electrical train lines.

Throughout railroad trains, there usually extend train lines,such as pipe lines and elec-.

tric lines. These lines are composed or sections, a section being carried'upon each car or unit the train. The ipe line is usuemployedfor conducting fluid under sections of the pipe line are connected together to form the train line. The present invention has for an object 25 thereof to employ the coupling members of the pipe line for connecting the sections of an electric line.

The present invention also has for an oblject thereof to provide means for disconnecting. the sections of the electric line from the coupling members of the pipe line.

The apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings will serve to explain the invention.

It will of course be understood that the invention may be embodied in various other forms, and that it may be employed for various purposes.

- The views in are as follows:

Figure 1 is a plan view of two sections of the pipe line and two sections of the electric the accompanying drawings line which are connected together by the coupling. Fig. 2 is a side view of the ends 45 of two cars showing the section of the pipe line and an electric line connected together by the coupling. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of one of the coupling members, and, Fig. i is a transverse sectional view on the line H of Fig. 3.

The cars 1 and 2 are each provided with a section 3 of the air pipe line which extends through the train, the ends of each section of the pipe line being provided with an angle cock 4, which has a hose 5 connected thereto. The hose carries at the outer end thereof a pressure throughout the train. The sections 7 couplin head or member 6, generally made of metaT or "other conducting material. The cars l and 2 are also each provided with a cable or conductor 7, said cable being connected 'to the terminal '8 of a fluid pres'sure operated switch 9. The other terminal 10 of said switch has a cable or conductor 11 oonnected thereto, the outer end of said cable being arranged alongside the hose 5 and fastened thereto by straps 12. The operating mechanism of the switch is preferably connected to the outer end of the angle cock 4: by a pipe 13. The switch may be of the form indicated in the Letters Patent granted upon August 4, 1903, No. 735,452, or of any other form.

The hose 5 may be clamped to the coupling head or member 6 by a strap 14, this strap being made in two sections which are fastened together by bolts 15. The outer end of the cable 11 may be connected to the strap 14 by a binding screw 16, and said strap may be electrically connected to the couplin head or member 6 by a screw or bolt 1 which is threaded in said strap. The screw 17 passes through the hose 5 and engages the coupling member. The hose 5 being composed of insulating material, the coupling head or member is insulated from the section 3 of the pipe line.

The coupling members 6 at the adjacent ends of the sections of the train line are adapted to be coupled to connect the sections of the electric line and the pipe line.

The angle cocks 4 are usually open to perunit air, steam or other fluids to pass through the pipe line. The fluid in said pipe line passes through the pipes 13 to the operatin mechanisms of the switches. When the flui under isms o the switches, the switches are closed and connect the cables 7 and 11. It is -cus-" pressure enters the operating mechantomary to close ,(he angle cocks when the If th train is provided with an electric line which has the sections thereof connected tageously.

by a special couplin and it is necessary to extend a conductor t rough the train in addition to the conductors of said electric line, it being impractical to arrange said additional conductor in said electric line, the present invention may be employed advant is obvious that man changes may be made in the system whic has been particularly described herein for the purpose of disclosing the invention, which Wlll be-within the purview of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

'1. a railroad train, in combination, a sectional pi line passing through a plurality of unlts of the train, a coupling connecting sections of said line, a sectional electric line extending through said units of the train and having sections thereof connected by said coupling, and automatic means for disconnecting each section of said electric line from its corresponding members of said coupling.

2. In combination, a sectional pipeline which is adapted to contain fluid under pressure, a cock arranged upon the end of a sec, tion of said line and adapted to close the passage throu h the end of said section, a couplm mem er connected to said cock and 'adapte to be connected toa complementary coupling member having connection with another section'of said line, so asto establish communication between said sections when said cock is open, a sectional electric line, a switch having electrical connections with a section of said electric line and the first mentioned coupling member whereby when said switch is closed, said section of said electric line is connected to said first mentioned cou ling member, a fluid pressure operated mecliani'sm adapted to operate said switch, said mechanism being connected to said cock at a point between said cockand said coupling member whereby said mechanism will receive fluid under pressure from said pipe line when said 'cock is open, to close said switch, and when the cock is closed the su ply offluid under pressure is cut off therei om, to 0 en said switch, thereby disconnecting said e cotric line from the first mentionedcoupling member.

3. In combination, a sectional pipe line, a cou ling member connected to a section of said pipe line, a sectional electric line having a section thereof electrically connected to said coupling member, and automatic means for disconnecting said section of said electric line from said coupling member.

4. In combination, a sectional pipe line, a hose connected to a section of said line, a couplin member carried by said hose, a sectional e ectric line having a section thereof electrically connected to said coupling member, and automatic means for disconnecting said section of said electric line from sai coupling member.

5. In combination, a sectional pipe line, a hose connected to a section of sai a coupling member carried by said ose, a strap clam in said hose to said member, and a sectiona l e ectric line having a section thereof electrically connected to said strap,-

and means extending through said strap and hose to electrically connect said strap to said coupling member.

6. In a car, in combination, a pipe carried upon the car, a coupling member connected to said pipe, an electrical conductor electrically connected to said coupling member, and automatic means for disconnecting saidconductor from said cou ling member.

7. In a car, in com ination, a pipe carried upon the car, a hose connected to said pipe, a coupling member carried b said hose an electrical conductor electrica y connected to said coupling and automatic means for disconnecting said conductor from said coupling member.

8. In a car, in combination, a pipe carried upon the car, a hose connected to said pipe, a coupling member carried b said hose, an

. electrical conductorelectrica y connected to said coupling, and automatic means for disconnectin ling mem er.

9. In a car, in combination, a pipe carried upon the car, a cock connected to the end of said pipe, a hose attached to said cook, a

couphng member carried by said hose, an

electrical conductor connected to said coupling member, and a fluid-pressure operated switch having the fluid-pressure operated pi e line,

said conductor from said coupmechanism thereof connected to the outer I end of said cock, said switch being adapted to disconnect said conductor from said coupling member. I

10. In a car, in combination, a pi ecarried by said car, an angle cockcarrie by said pipe, a coupling member connected to'said angle cock, an electric conductor, .a fluidpressure-actuated switch adapted to connect said conductor to said coupling member and disconnect the same therefrom, the operat' mechamsm of said switch being in commumcation with the passage between saidang le cock and said coupling member.

11. In'a car, in combination, a pi e carried by said car, an angle cock carrie by said pipe, a hose connected to said an 1e cock, :1. coupling member carried by sai hose, an electric conductor, a fluid-pressure-actuated switch adapted to connect said conductor to said couphng member and disconnect the same therefrom, the actuating mechanism of said switch being in communlcation with the passage between said angle cock and said 10 DGSSGS- WILLIAM L. BLISS. Witnesses EDWIN B. H. TOWER, J r., HERBERT J. SMITH. 

